More community coverage needed

Posted

To the editor: 

The Riverdale Press has consistently won awards as the best weekly newspaper in its class. That being said, as a Riverdale resident for over 50 years, I question whether it is any longer a “Community Newspaper.” 

Here are a few examples of the stories that our Community should have known about, but the coverage was minimal or nonexistent: 

1. The Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt organization had a recent street fair featuring Johnson Avenue merchants, at which hundreds of people attended, but received little or no Press coverage.

2. Thanks to State Senator Klein, a contract was favorably negotiated with the Circle Line allowing over 400 seniors from Riverdale, other Bronx areas and Westchester to go on the Kiwanis Senior Citizens boat ride.

Also on Oct. 7 and 14, Sen. Klein treated 1,000 Riverdale and Bronx area seniors to lunch and a Broadway show at the Westchester Broadway Theater. 

3. The Riverdale Conservative Synagogue honored Riverdalian Irving Ladimer on his 100th birthday, which was attended by numerous local dignitaries. Irving is a strong community activist who is well known for his service and contributions to almost every facet of Riverdale life, and his story was never told.

4. A dinner was held [on] Oct. 27 at the home of Ruth Friendly, where the author and former president of Random House, Robert Bernstein, discussed his book on human rights. The former editor of The Riverdale Press, Richard Stein, participated. This was part of an annual program sponsored by Riverdale Senior Services, known as “An Evening with the Authors.” Tow of these “Evenings” have already been attended, with two more scheduled, all in homes volunteered by Riverdale residents.

5. Also, Riverdale Senior Services recently honored Charles Moerdler, a well-known community and state activist and chairman of Community Board 8’s Land Use Committee, as well as Ronnie Lemansky, a dedicated worker at the Senior Center.

6. I am particularly dismayed by the lack of coverage of Riverdale Kiwanis Club’s sponsorship of the Annual Halloween Window Painting contest. This program, which we have held for over 50 years, was originally sponsored by David Stein, the founder of The Riverdale Press. There was no publicity on this event whatsoever.

These are just a few illustration of events that our community should know about, and were virtually ignored by The Press. I could go on with additional examples, but I feel I have demonstrated a lack of involvement on the part of The Press in much of what is happening here in Riverdale. This is not the Community Newspaper that it used to be. 

Bob Rubinstein

 

Editor’s note: The Press does not typically comment on readers’ opinions expressed in this section, but we would like to make an exception to thank Mr. Rubinstein for his letter. After a period of transition, we plan to expand our coverage of community events, and we are grateful for readers’ feedback. We are also asking our readers to email or call us with tips about upcoming community events that readers would like to see covered in The Press. Although our shortage of human resources prevents us from giving every event the coverage it deserves, we will do our best to focus on local happenings that interest our readers and that are important to our community. We would love to hear from you. 

 

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This letter was originally published in the Nov. 17, 2016 issue of The Riverdale Press.

Bob Rubinstein

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